Question on Music Recording Software

[SHADOWFOX]

Does anybody know of any or have experienced using a free streaming music recorder that captures audio from any web site and saved the file on your PC as a high quality MP3 or WMV file? Then it automatically tags the file with the artist, song title, album and genre, and perfectly separated into individual tracks.

Kind regards,

[ntmatter]

I'm fairly technical (work for Microsoft) and haven't heard of anything just like you describe. There are all kinds of software that can take one type of audio file and turn it into another, but you need the source file first. Some of these are generally easy to get off of a Web site, but some types of sites (for instance Flash-based ones) are designed to not allow you to do this.

[drumpriest]

If you have a creative labs card, you can use anything, including sound recorder, and do the "what you hear" as your audio input.

[leehljp]

Be sure that what you are "hearing" is legal for copies/recording.

[Alex Franke]

Does anybody know of any or have experienced using a free streaming music recorder that captures audio from any web site and saved the file on your PC as a high quality MP3 or WMV file? Then it automatically tags the file with the artist, song title, album and genre, and perfectly separated into individual tracks.

Like internet radio? I've thought about trying Screamer, but I haven't gotten around to it yet ...

[Rich P]

There is a free open source app called Audacity that will record from any audio input device you have. However, once you have the "bitstream" you have to mark it up into each "piece" and label it. I've only used it to digitize and clean up some old LP's but found it pretty easy to learn.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

I would use the 1.3 beta. Works much better than the "stable" version and I have had no problems with it.

[SHADOWFOX]

I'm fairly technical (work for Microsoft) and haven't heard of anything just like you describe. There are all kinds of software that can take one type of audio file and turn it into another, but you need the source file first. Some of these are generally easy to get off of a Web site, but some types of sites (for instance Flash-based ones) are designed to not allow you to do this.

I found the perfect software (Replay Music)for what I need but the downside is it's not free.

As to the question if this is legal, this falls in the same category as CD ripping programs like iTunes™ and MusicMatch™, or using a VCR, cassette tape recorder, or TiVo™ Digital Video Recorder.

The recording will strictly be for personal use.

Kind regards,

[leehljp]

As to the question if this is legal, this falls in the same category as CD ripping programs like iTunes™ and MusicMatch™, or using a VCR, cassette tape recorder, or TiVo™ Digital Video Recorder.

The recording will strictly be for personal use.

It is strange how illegal usages are printed in bold and in a vague language, but you have to hunt for the part that pertains to your rights as a user, which are usually equally obscrure!

[Kristofor]

The copy may fall under fair-use, but if you (or the software) has to do any "tricks" to circumvent the copy prevention and save the audio then you may run afoul of the DMCA.

I cannot vent about the DMCA without violating the political discussion prohibition, but I would consider it well intentioned civil disobedience to circumvent protections on media you own for purposes of more user friendly interactions with the material.

I don't personally feel the same way about streamed/rented/etc. material but since I've just stated that I don't consider it immoral to break parts of the law I'm willing to let others find the balance that feels right to them. Just be aware that a court might (probably would) disagree with my (or your) interpretation (I know there's almost nil chance that what you're proposing would ever be discovered or taken to court).